Chapter 247: Can't Leave Her Isolated and Unsupported

The two stepped out of the laboratory, a cold wind instantly slapped their faces and slipped under the cuffs into their clothes; Jiang Lai shivered, pulling her coat tighter.

The winter this year seems colder than previous years.

Ke Zhongyu took off his coat and draped it over her, saying, "Zhong Poqian couldn't reach you, so let me pass on a message: the trial is postponed by a week."

Jiang Lai was already wearing a coat, and now with another on, she felt heavier but warmer.

The coat carried a faint woody scent.

Hearing Ke Zhongyu say the trial was postponed a week, Jiang Lai's steps faltered slightly; she looked at him and asked, "Postponed?"

Ke Zhongyu replied, "Both defendants are bedridden; having a hired lawyer appear or a video remote hearing would disadvantage them and deprive them of a chance to defend. Lin Shutong's lawyer submitted medical proof, forcing a delay."

The two walked side by side toward the exit.

Jiang Lai said, "Lin Shutong's lawyer seems very professional."

Ke Zhongyu had already discussed the details with Zhong Poqian, and explained, "His surname is Meng, a somewhat well‑known lawyer in B City."

Jiang Lai: "B City…"

Ke Zhongyu: "Not sure whether it's Gu Zhiyan or Gu Yinxue."

Jiang Lai frowned at the two names, and Ke Zhongyu asked, "What's wrong? If Gu Zhiyan dares to insult you again, I'll proactively negotiate with the Gu family."

Jiang Lai shook her head, "It's not Gu Zhiyan, it's Gu Yinxue; I find her strange."

"Strange?" In Ke Zhongyu's impression, Jiang Lai rarely uses that word to describe anyone; "strange" is actually quite ambiguous.

The car stopped in front of them; Jiang Lai got in first, and Ke Zhongyu followed closely.

The two again returned home together after work.

Jiang Lai continued, "The first time I met Miss Gu was at a café; we accidentally bumped into each other, apologized, but she insisted on buying me coffee. The second meeting was at the Ke family; she wanted my contact info, saying she hoped I'd be her model."

"The third time was at the Fuli Yuan; she arrived before us, holding paperwork while filming a public‑service promotional video, left before finishing, on the day we left K City, and…"

"Miss Gu seemed to be probing for information about me."

Ke Zhongyu's heart lurched; could it be because of him?

He didn't want to bring any trouble to Jiang Lai.

Especially trouble of this sort.

Ke Zhongyu: "I'll handle it."

Jiang Lai refocused on the postponed hearing, took out her phone and asked Zhong Lü, "What effect will the delay have on me?"

Zhong Lü replied that it wouldn't, because everything would lead to the same outcome.

Jiang Lai felt reassured.

The car stopped at Nanshan Villa No. 9; after Jiang Lai got out, she took off her coat and handed it to Ke Zhongyu.

Ke Zhongyu reached out, took it, and watched her go inside.

He instructed the driver, "Go to the old house."

Then he called Assistant Zhou, "Check what Gu Yinxue has been doing lately, especially anything related to Jiang Lai."

Assistant Zhou had initially wondered why Ke, the chief, suddenly focused on Miss Gu, but understood after hearing that line.

It turned out to be about Miss Jiang.

Miss Gu claimed to like Ke, yet she didn't really understand him; Ke's cold, sharp tongue was genuine, but he also truly protected his own.

In those days, Eldest Miss Ke was in secondary school, modest, with fair skin, beauty and good grades; boys she liked lined up, and jealous girls also formed a line. Once, Ke was forced to pick up his younger sister after school and happened to see a group of girls surrounding Eldest Miss Ke. Young Master knew the Miss could handle it, didn't step forward, but behind the scenes he invited the parents to the Ke family for a sort of "negotiation."

As a result, during that period Eldest Miss Ke heard apologies directed at her every day, until she called Ke and told him those people were bothering her; only then did it end.

Ke Zhongyu: "As soon as possible."

Assistant Zhou: "Understood, Ke."

After hanging up, Ke Zhongyu clenched the black coat in his hand, lifted it slightly, and a faint herbal scent lingered at his nose, just like the scent between him and Jiang Lai.

Ke Zhongyu suddenly realized that performing this slightly perverse gesture made him resemble the little brat he once looked down upon.

He set the coat down, didn't put it back on after getting out, and upon entering the old house he didn't have the maid hang it; instead he placed it on the chair he intended to sit in.

Ms. Nian noticed his action, smiled, "It's so cold, why bring it back?"

Ke Zhongyu looked at his mother, "I was taking her back."

Ms. Nian laughed again, walked over to sit beside her husband.

Ke Fu looked at his son and said, "I called you back for a matter; in a few days Uncle Gu will go to A City on business, and at that time my wife and I will be at the Nian family, so you'll be responsible for hosting them."

Ms. Nian replied, "It's just a matter of hospitality; there's nothing else."

Ke Zhongyu: "When? I'm unavailable next week."

Ke Fu: "Hm?"

Ke Zhongyu: "Jiang Lai's trial is postponed a week; when she appears in court I must be there the whole time—I can't leave her isolated and unsupported."

The final sentence rang out like a thunderclap.

Coincidentally, Chongying was holding a phone on the second‑floor railing, the phone in the middle of a call with Jiang Lai.

Chongying didn't know whether Jiang Lai heard, but she herself heard perfectly clearly.

Facing his suddenly appearing sister, Ke Zhongyu looked up briefly, unaware that she was on the phone with Jiang Lai, and said nothing.

Ke Fu and Ms. Nian expressed support for Ke Zhongyu accompanying Jiang Lai to court; as for Gu Sen's trip to A City, the exact time wasn't set yet—will be decided later, and they'll try to make time if possible; the hearing won't last until night.

Ke Zhongyu tentatively agreed, but also said Jiang Lai's matter must take priority.

Chongying stood on the second floor, silently holding the phone; Ke Zhongyu sensed something was off and shouted, "Come down."

"Okay." Chongying went down, said goodbye to Jiang Lai on the phone.

The whole family only then realized she had just been on a call.

Ms. Nian: "Who were you calling?"

Chongying glanced at her older brother, "Sister Jiang Lai."

Ke Zhongyu's gaze toward his sister sank slightly, as if asking her why she hadn't said so earlier.

"This time I didn't call Jiang Lai-jie; she called me. She said, 'Older brother, you haven't eaten dinner.'" After saying that, Ke Zhongying looked at her older brother with a meaningful gaze: "Any effect? Jiang Lai-jie took the initiative to care about you, saying you haven't eaten dinner."

Ke Zhongyu struggled to press down his rising lips, provokingly looking at his sister: "What? Not caring about you?"

Ke Zhongying: "Today I won't argue with you; I respect my elders, I'll let you have your way."

Ke Zhongyu: "Hmph."

Ke Zhongying took out her phone, her wrist immediately seized by her older brother, who said in a low voice: "What are you doing?"

"Going to tattle on Jiang Lai-jie."

Ke Zhongyu took her phone and placed it aside.

Ke Fu asked: "Haven't you eaten dinner?"

Ke Zhongyu nodded.

Immediately afterward, Ke Fu rose and headed toward the kitchen.

Ke Zhongying: "Dad! Can I have a late-night snack you personally made?"

Ms. Nian also said: "Mr. Ke, can I have one too?"

Ke Fu indicated that there were.

Ms. Nian looked at her son: "The rice noodles are made very well."

Ke Zhongyu: "Jiang Lai likes it."

Ms. Nian: "We like it too."

A double entendre.

Nanshan Shu Jiuhao, Jiang Lai lay rigidly on the bed, gazing at the ceiling in the darkness, her mind filled with Ke Zhongyu's words: "Don't let her be left helpless."

It wasn't heard clearly, but she indeed caught a bit.